Procurement Notices

Project Title: Accelerator Lab Philippines (00118909 / 00115528).

Project Description

The UNDP Strategic Plan 2018-2021 commits the organization to help countries find faster, more durable solutions towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and address long-standing, complex challenges, such as urbanization, climate change, and rising inequalities that may impede achievement of Agenda 2030.

Among the new generation of solutions launched by UNDP is the Accelerator Lab Network. Aiming to build the largest and fastest learning global network embedded in its bureaucracy, UNDP has set up Accelerator Labs in an initial set of 60 countries, including the Philippines. The labs are tasked to pursue interdisciplinary approaches and non-linear solutions that crowd in the collective efforts of variety of partners and tap into local insights and the knowledge of people closest to the problem and the solutions. Through the Accelerator Labs, UNDP aims to introduce a range of new services to partners—including sensemaking, collective intelligence, solutions mapping, and experimentation—to accelerate the testing and dissemination of solutions within and across countries.

With the arrival of the COVID-19 virus, cities are on the frontline of both the current phase of managing and coping with the immediate effects of virus transmission as well as being confronted with the challenge of recovery and resilience planning. UNDP Philippines led by the Accelerator Lab team has been engaging with two cities in Metro Manila – Pasig and Marikina – to develop a program of support based around the concept of “strategic risk management”.[1] The COVID context makes such work more urgent but with the ongoing community quarantine in the Philippines, the mode of delivery and content of the planned training sessions would need to reviewed and revised.

The focus of UNDP’s support is to enable selected cities in Metro Manila to futureproof and accelerate sustainable development impact through dynamic management of strategic risks, opportunities and innovation. It aims to empower city leaders and their teams by providing a series of strategic options to better understand the key risks they are facing and exploit the transformative opportunities available to them and ultimately increase their effectiveness in creating citizen centered, livable and sustainable city spaces. This is anchored in the view of strengthening democracy and scaling participatory governance, while ensuring that no one is left behind.

UNDP requires the services of a Sustainable Cities Specialist as an individual consultant (IC) with deep local knowledge and experience of urban issues and strong partner networks to provide analysis and advice to both the CO and the private sector partner implementing the program of technical assistance based in the two cities being currently supported under the project.

[1] The work is being led by a team from ContextF.

Scope of Work and Outputs

The IC shall support the ALab team in undertaking operations related to project management, partnership engagement, research and knowledge management of the #NextGenCities Philippines initiative. In particular:

1. Strategic engagement – strengthening city partnerships and relationship management, including:
   1. Identifying and brokering partnerships with cities for #NextGenCities activities;
   2. Provide strategic entry points and facilitate engagement with a diverse range of external partners across sectors i.e. government, development partners, private sector, academic partners and unusual partners;
   3. Mapping stakeholders, capabilities and advocacies for programmatic synergies;
   4. Other related support.
2. Research and knowledge management – contribute technical expertise to build collective intelligence around cities programming through:
   1. Provide technical analysis and insights into #NextGenCities programming and reference to related case studies, literature, policies, academic research, data and other materials;
   2. Conduct of initial or exploratory analysis, field observation, interviews, focus group discussions to identify patterns and trends;
   3. Drafting of policy notes or briefs, presentations, communication materials, and other materials;
   4. Other related support.
3. Project management and operational support – planning and implementation of #NextGenCities activities, through:
   1. Coordination with consultants, responsible parties and grantees;
   2. Organization and documentation of activities such as field missions, workshops, training, meetings, etc.;
   3. Compliance with management requirements and progress tracking;
   4. Other related support.

Expected Outputs and Deliverables

1. Governance and Accountability

1. The Consultant shall be directly supervised by the Head of Exploration of UNDP Accelerator Lab PH, with whom all outputs shall be submitted and through whom all communications shall be coursed or copied.
2. The Consultant may also be required to coordinate with and seek guidance from key members of the UNDP Team, particularly: at the Bangkok Regional Hub, the Head and other officials of the Regional Innovation Center; and in the Philippine Country Office, the Resident Representative, Deputy Resident Representative, Senior Policy Advisor, relevant Outcome Leads, Institutions and Partnerships (I&P) Programme Analyst, and Heads of Experimentation and Solutions Mapping of the Accelerator Lab Philippines.
3. The Consultant is expected to provide his/her own laptop for the work requirement. S/he will be provided with desk space and access to office facilities and equipment. S/he will also be support by UNDP staff for administrative and logistic requirements, as necessary.
4. Expected local travels are only within Metro Manila.

Duration of Work and Duty Station

1. The expected duration of the assignment is 60 working days between 11 May to 11 August 2020, unless revised in a mutually agreed upon timetable between the Consultant, ALab PH Head of Exploration, and IAT-SPA.
2. Considering the COVID-19 pandemic and declaration of State of Public Health Emergency in the Philippines, all work of the Individual consultant shall be done within the guidelines and protocols set by the local and national government.
3. During the entire duration of the Enhanced Community Quarantine, this consultancy shall be performed remotely and will be a home-based assignment. The Consultant is expected to have his/her own equipment, office space, and internet connectivity. The Consultant shall not engage in any meetings or activities outside their homes. Coordination/meetings shall be done through phone or online communication until such time that the quarantine is lifted.
4. UNDP and the Consultant shall assess, once the Enhanced Community Quarantine is lifted, if it is safe and necessary to have in-person meetings and collaboration.

Corporate Competences

·         Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN mission, vision, values and ethical standards

·         Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability

Other Competencies

·         Demonstrates strong analytical skills and mature judgement well-planned and organized;

·         Ability to work in close collaboration with a group of national and international experts, to meet strict deadlines and plan the work according to priorities;

·         Demonstrates capacity to plan, organize and execute effectively;

·         Ability to establish effective working relations in a multi-cultural team environment;

·         Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;

·         Facilitates and encourages open communication in the team and with stakeholders;

·         Excellent written communication and presentation/public speaking skills

Professional Qualifications of the Successful Consultant

Only those who score a minimum of 70 out of the 100 obtainable points will be shortlisted and evaluated.

Scope of Price Proposal and Schedule of Payment

The Consultant should send the financial proposal based on a lump-sum amount for the delivery of the outputs identified below. The total amount quoted shall be “all inclusive” all costs (professional fees, insurance, travel costs within duty station living allowances, communications, etc.) that could possibly be incurred by the Consultant should be factored into the final amount submitted in the proposal. Medical/health insurance must be purchased by the individual at his/her own expense, and upon award of contract, the consultant must be ready to submit proof of insurance valid during contract duration.

1.       The contract price will be fixed output-based price. Any deviations from the output and timelines will be agreed upon between the Consultant and the ALab-PH Head of Exploration.

2.       Payments will be done upon satisfactory completion of the delivery by target due dates. Outputs will be certified by the Head of Exploration prior to release of payments.

Recommended Presentation of the Offer

Interested bidders must submit the following:

1.       Duly accomplished Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability, using the template provided by UNDP;

2.       UNDP Personal History Form (P11) or Curriculum Vitae (following the template attached) indicating all past experiences from similar projects or requirements, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate and at least three (3) professional references;

3.       Financial proposal that indicates the all-inclusive fixed total contract prices, supported by a breakdown of costs as per UNDP template provided and clearly stating payment percentage.

4.       At least 1 sample work (publication, policy brief, presentation) that demonstrates excellent command of written English

Templates for a) P11 Personal History Form and b)  Offeror's Letter to UNDP Confirming Interest and Availability and Financial Proposal are available through the link below. UNDP General Terms and Conditions for Individual Contractors  are also available:

http://gofile.me/6xdJm/bE9TCw8fU

Criteria for Selection of Best Offer

Applications from qualified candidate will be desk reviewed by the UNDP Philippines’ evaluation committee. Assessment of best offer will be via Combined Scoring method—where the qualifications (see above table for Professional Qualifications) will be weighted 70% and the financial proposal (price offer) will be weighted 30%.

Submissions must be uploaded on the following link:

https://jobs.undp.org/cj_view_job.cfm?cur_job_id=91245

Offerors must upload in one (1) file the Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability, UNDP Personal History Form (P11) or Curriculum Vitae, Financial proposal that indicates the all-inclusive fixed total contract prices, and At least 1 sample work (publication, policy brief, presentation) that demonstrates excellent command of written English.

Please see deadline of submissions above.